Hello this is Natasha and I'm here with a story about Katie who is an ordinary schoolgirl apart from one thing.

She's a witch and can do magic tricks.

And hello to Anya, aged 9, who's been waiting for this Katie story.

Katie had been learning Latin at school for a year.

When I say learning, that might not be quite the right word because, to tell

you the truth, she had hardly learned any Latin. She knew that Gromio Est in Horto meant

Gromio is in the garden but what was the use of that to anyone nowadays?

Katie couldn't wait to drop this deadbeat language and learn something

more useful like Spanish. But when she told her mother, she received a big no.

Katie had to learn Latin because it was the most useful subject in school if you are a witch.

Why, mum, pleaded Katie. you are a witch?

the mam pleaded katy hardly anyone casts spells in Latin anymore they've all been

translated into English. Well maybe but Latin makes the past come alive today her

mum said gesturing with a wooden spoon and accidentally flicking some drops of

solle soup onto Katie's forehead without seeming to notice.

When you read Latin, people from a whole different world speak to you like they are alive today,

only in a parallel universe.

To do magic, you need to understand how the past and the present live alongside one another and their energies intertwine

Katie's side not entirely convinced. You make it sound so interesting, but our

Latin teacher is about as interesting as a statue of some dead Roman dude.

That's a pity, her mum replied.

The wooden spoon now tapping rhythmically against the side of the pot.

...